Shang Dynasty (1766 – 1122 B.C.) 3/3

August 31, 2010

Archeologists discovered China’s first chariots while excavating the Shang capital of Xin Xu.

The archeological evidence shows the development of the war chariot from two horses to four for more horsepower.

The narrator of the video takes us for a ride in a replicate of the Shang war chariot.

The Shang Dynasty also had women warriors.  Fu Hao, queen consort of King Wuding (Shang Dynasty’s 22nd king), was not only the mother to some of the king’s children but also a fighting general.

Fu Hao’s tomb was one of two discovered that had not been looted. Oracle bones revealed that she led thirteen thousand troops into combat. Fu Hao was more than a military leader. She was also high priestess and oracle caster.

The video’s narrator talks about jade having the same status in China that diamonds have elsewhere.  Jade is not only a symbol of luxury and wealth since ancient times but also represents refinement and purity.

During the Shang Dynasty,  The I Ching, The Book of Changes was written, which is based on the principle of a broken line representing yin and an unbroken line representing yang. This is the first book that attempted to explain the secrets of the universe.

See The Life of Confucius

______________

Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. 

Sign up for an RSS Feed for iLook China

1 Comment | China, Chinese Culture, Chinese history, Chinese women, history | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Yin Yang

April 11, 2010

Yin Yang is about balance.

In many ethical systems, the right path is the one that does not stray far from the middle. Aristotle preached that virtue was striking a balance between the vices of excess and of defect. A similar concept was presented by Plato, who was influenced by Pythagorean (570 -495 BC) ideas.

The concept of  balance is also an important aspect of  Confucianism since the philosophy of Yin Yang appeared about the same time as Confucius (551 – 479 BC), who wrote of a harmonious life that avoids excesses and deficiencies where wisdom was learned from both the old and the young, the high and the low.

Since Lao Tzu (the founder of Taoism and the concept of Yin and Yang) and Confucius lived about the same time, they may have met and shared thoughts.

The Doctrine of the Mean was a basis for civil service examinations in China from 1312 to 1905.

Confucius

The concept of Yin and Yang applies to many issues of life. In Taoism heaven is masculine and earth is feminine suggesting the dependence of the entire creation upon the Creator.

A whole series of possible interactions between the Yin and Yang in life is contained in the Chinese Book of Changes, the i Ching.

Discover Learning from China’s History

______________

Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too.

If you want to subscribe to iLook China, there is a “Subscribe” button at the top of the screen in the menu bar 

2 Comments | China, Chinese Culture, Chinese history, Confucianism | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse